Uber to crack down on driver and passenger behaviour via smartphones

Uber has launched a pilot program that will utilise a variety of strategies to monitor the behaviour of its drivers and passengers.

The company announced its plans to trial a smartphone-based tracking system using gyrometres, GPS and accelerometers to regulate drivers’ speeds and phone usage.

An accelerometer sensor is built into most smartphones and will show when a driver accelerates and brakes too quickly, while gyrometer data will reveal if drivers are constantly moving their phones in distraction.

The Uber model provides everyday drivers with a platform to offer rides on demand to potential customers and has proved very popular over the past few year.

The company has faced criticism from taxi drivers and legislators across the world for not regulating their services enough.

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“And if it’s not, we could use the information to make sure a driver’s rating isn’t affected.”

According to The Guardian, in addition to the monitoring of vehicle speeds and phone usage, the company is also planning to target the sometimes unruly behaviour of Uber passengers in some unique ways.

In Seattle, they are considering installing passenger-facing mirrors in the backseats of operators cars based on evidence it causes riders to “self-moderate” their behaviour.

They have also test-run putting a children’s ‘Bop It’ sound toy in Uber vehicles in Charlotte, North Carolina, to pacify drunken passengers who may be distracting drivers.